VERMILION PARISH, La. ( KLFY ) — Brylee Batiste and Khandi Shufford were two of five Vermilion Parish girls who competed in the world powerlifting championships in Malta.

The Abbeville High students took home the gold.

Shufford got second place in bench press and gold in bench press. She also lifted the most in the -57 junior kilogram sub-junior division.

“It was a great feeling,” Shufford said. “I told my mom, I told my parents that I would do it and I was happy to make my mom’s birthday a special day.”

As for Batiste, she finished second place in bench press and squat, and first place in deadlifting and total weight in the -84 kilo sub-junior division.

“I was very nervous because I was in second place the whole time to my last deadlift,” Batiste said.

Both are glad to represent Abbeville on a global stage.

“It was an amazing feeling to put Abbeville on the spot,” Batiste said.

Shufford said she’s glad to contribute positive things to her hometown.

“It felt good because normally you don’t really hear much good about Abbeville. It’s always bad. You don’t really hear a lot about the success or positive things that happen over at there,” Shufford said.

The Cajun Prep powerlifters … they’re proud of their victories and each other.

“It was really cool, we got to share something in common,” Shufford said. “Go somewhere together for the first time, got to do different things.”

“Everybody back home was like ‘Oh Khandi won, oh Brylee won. We have two American champions in our house. This is great.'” Batiste said. “So it was amazing.”

Both say they plan to keep lifting to get stronger and win more.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

KLFY Daily Digest

Latest News

• Cajuns Take Control; Roll Past Kennesaw State, 34-10
• Rare dime hidden for decades could bring huge payout for Ohio farm family
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Six could bring impacts to Acadiana Wednesday
• LPSS monitors potential tropical system, no school closures announced yet
• Government shutdown looms as Congress faces funding fight

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.